Where to Start with Anna James
If you are diving into the imaginative worlds of Anna James, the best place to start is with her flagship series, beginning with Tilly and the Bookwanderers (published in the United States under the title The Bookwanderers). This book introduces Tilly Pages and the rules of "bookwandering"—the magical ability to step directly into books and interact with their characters.
However, if you are looking for an original, self-contained fantasy world rather than portal fantasy, you can begin with Chronicles of Whetherwhy: The Age of Enchantment. This series takes place on a magical island ruled by seasonal magic and does not connect to the Pages & Co. universe, making it a perfectly viable secondary starting point.
Pages & Co. Series in Publication Order
The Pages & Co. series consists of six main novels and one companion short story. It is highly recommended to read this series in order, as it follows a continuous overarching plot involving Tilly's family secrets and the mechanics of bookwandering.
Important Note for US Readers: The first book was released as Tilly and the Bookwanderers in the UK, but the title was shortened to The Bookwanderers for the US edition. They are the same novel. Similarly, the second and fifth books have slight title variations and differing US release years, which are detailed below.
- Tilly and the Bookwanderers (2018) – Also published as "The Bookwanderers" in the US. Tilly discovers her magical heritage and travels into classics like Alice in Wonderland and Anne of Green Gables.
- Tilly and the Lost Fairy Tales (2019) – US edition published in 2020. Tilly and her friend Oskar travel to Paris and wander into classic fairy tales, dealing with unstable magic.
- Tilly and the Map of Stories (2020) – Tilly travels to America to seek out the elusive Archivists as bookwandering magic begins to behave unpredictably.
- The Book Smugglers (2021) – The focus shifts slightly to include new characters and threats, detailing the underground network of book smugglers.
- The Treehouse Library (2022) – US edition published in 2023. Tilly travels to the Library of Congress and explores the magic of children's libraries.
- The Last Bookwanderer (2023) – The final installment in the main series, wrapping up Tilly's adventures and the threat to bookwandering itself.
The Pages & Co. Companion Story
- "Unbirthday" (2020) – This is a standalone short story set during Tilly's 12th birthday party. It was published exclusively in the anthology First Edition: Celebrating 21 Years of Goldsboro Books. It is a fun addition but not strictly necessary to understand the main plot.
Chronicles of Whetherwhy Series in Order
In 2025, Anna James launched a brand new high-fantasy series set on a magical island where magic is tied to the seasons. This series is planned to span four books, following twins Juniper and Rafferty.
- The Age of Enchantment (2025) – Introduces the magical island of Whetherwhy, where the twins discover their unique seasonal magic.
- The Season of Flames (2026) – The second installment, expanding the lore and the dangers facing Whetherwhy.
Standalone Novels and Retellings
In addition to her main fantasy series, Anna James has written standalone works that cater to different formats and classic retellings.
- Hetty and the Battle of the Books (2022) – A standalone novella published by Barrington Stoke. It is printed in a dyslexia-friendly format, featuring a customized font and spaced layout. The story follows a young girl campaigning to save her school library.
- Alice with a Why (2025) – A gorgeous retelling of Lewis Carroll's classic. Set in 1919, it follows a girl named Alyce whose grandmother is the original Alice. Alyce receives an invitation to a tea party and tumbles into a brand-new, war-torn version of Wonderland.
What to Know Before You Start
Anna James writes primarily for middle-grade readers (ages 8 to 12), but her books are widely loved by adult fans of classic children's literature. Because Pages & Co. relies heavily on existing stories, young readers will get the most out of the series if they are already familiar with classics like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Anne of Green Gables, A Little Princess, and The Secret Garden.
For readers who struggle with traditional book formats, Hetty and the Battle of the Books is specifically structured to be accessible to dyslexic and reluctant readers, making it a great, low-pressure entry point to her writing style.